Chapter 56

Now it was a month gone since Shyam fiasco, and the court had given the judgement regarding Shyam's crimes... he being involved in fraud, cheating, mischief, causing grievous hurt, forgery, attempt to murder and bigamy was sentenced for life time imprisonment and then Anjali had filed for divorce which would soon be granted by the court. The Raizadas had purposely left out Shyam's misbehaving with Khushi, not because they were worried about the family name but because they didn't want Khushi to go through the trauma again mentally and also they were sure that the number of crimes that he has done was enough to make him rot in jail till death.

Anjali along with Arnav, Akash and Mamaji returned from the court after the hearing and saw that the rest family was waiting for them in the hall. Seeing them back Muskaan ran to her mother and hugging her said: "Maa, I was waiting for you and Akash Mama, Khushi Mami said you will return soon but you were so late..."

Anjali smiled and before she could answer Akash picked her up and said: "We are sorry beta, but we got stuck in traffic you know... but now we are back and we will do whatever Muskaan says."

Muskaan: "Sachii...??"

Anjali kissing her cheek: "...Muchhi... now tell me what my daughter wants..?"

Khuhsi walking towards them: "Everything later on, Muskaan beta now it is time for you to study, you still have to complete the sums that I gave you."

Arnav: "Khushi, Muskaan will do that later, now, let her do what she wants."

Khushi: "No Arnavji, Muskaan has started to study so late, she needs to concentrate on her studies so that she can get admitted in school."

Akash: "Bhabi is right Bhai... (to Muskaan) Beta, go and complete the work that Khushi Mami has assigned, after that we will do whatever you want."

Muskaan nodded and getting down from Akash's arm ran off to her room. Seeing her gone Dadi asked: "Chote, What happened in the court..?"

Arnav sitting beside her said: "Dadi, the court has punished Shyam with life time imprisonment. He may file petition in higher court but still we have strong evidence and his punishment won't be reduced."

Mami: "I want him to rot in jail."

Mamaji: "Don't worry Manorama, your wish will be fulfilled, after all the crimes that he has done he deserves to rot in jail and he will."

Dadi: "The only thing I am worried about is what if he claims right on our Muskaan bitiya or Anjali Bitiya's unborn child."

Akash: "He won't Dadiji, because in the adoption papers of Muskaan, a clause was mentioned that if in any circumstances he gets separated from Di, then the sole custody of Muskaan and Di's unborn child will stay with Di only. He will have no rights either on Di's kids or property."

Dadi: "That is so good."

Akash: "Yes, that day when Bhai had asked me to add those clauses I was confused but now I am glad that such a clause was there."

Dadi: "Chalo acha hai... I was worried about that only, now everything will be fine."

Nani: "You all came back, but where is Nanhe Bitwa?"

Akash: "Dadi, he has gone to drop Soumyaji at Nirmala Aunty's place. It has been tough for Soumyaji too."

Nani nodding: "I understand."

HP got tea for all of them and while having tea they talked about things.

Khushi: "Arnavji, I was thinking of getting Muskaan admitted in school... she now knows basic language, mathematics and other subjects that a normal 10 year old should know... it will be better if she goes to school."

Akash: "You are right Bhabi. Going to school will be nice for her... but she has never been to school... don't know if the school authorities will get her admitted or not... even if they do then in which class..."

Khushi: "Akashji, as per her age she should by now probably be in 4^th or 5^th class, and doesn't matter if she hasn't gone to school before, she is too talented for her age, she has completed the course books till class 4^th, so it is upto the school authorities now to decide which class she should be in."

Anjali: "I think it will be better if she starts from class 4^th, so in future she will be able to cope up with studies better."

Arnav: "You are right Di. Today only I will ask Aman to find the best schools and then decide where to get her admitted."

Anjali: "Okay, but ask Amanji to find girls only school."

Khushi: "Why girls only school Di..?"

Now Akash answered instead of Anjali: "Isn't it obvious Bhabi... she till now is scared of males... and if she goes to co-ed school then she will not feel good."

Khushi: "How long are you planning to keep her away from boys Akashji..?"

Akash: "What do you mean..?"

Khushi: "What I mean is, we can't keep Muskaan in the cocoon forever... she will want to fly freely... and when she will want that, we being over protective about her would have made her so weak that she won't be able to fly by her own self."

Arnav: "What are you saying Khushi..?"

Khushi: "Arnavji... we all love Muskaan and want her to be strong enough to face this world... we all will always be there for her, but she has to stand on her own feet... if at any point she falls down then we all will help her stand again... then only she will learn to walk and run... but if we don't allow her to stand by herself at the first place then how will she learn to walk..."

Anjali: "What are you trying to say Khushiji..?"

Khushi: "Di, we know Muskaan is scared of male persons... but with time she need to learn to get along with boys... all male are not bad... if she goes to girls only school, how will she come to know this... her life will only revolve round her Mama's and Nanaji... she won't be able to face the future Di. For her to be strong, she needs to learn to fight... fight for herself... for her rights... (looking at Arnav) ...Arnavji, you want Muskaan to join AR in future, and there, there will be lot of men along with whom she will have to work... we need to prepare her for tomorrow from today itself."

Dadi: "I agree with Khushi Bitiya."

Akash: "But Dadiji... Bhabi... Muskaan is scared of boys... what if..."

Khuhsi: "...we need to remove this fear. ...she has to overcome her fear to get success. And for that she needs to go to a co-ed school."

Anjali: "You are saying right Khushiji... but what if out of fear she doesn't want to go to school."

Khushi: "She won't Di... after all she is your daughter... Akashji's niece... she won't be scared of anything... she will face everything and come out with flying colours and make us all proud."

Arnav: "You are right Khushi... but we need to talk to Muskaan first... if she is okay in going to a co-ed school then I have no problem."

Mamaji: "Haan Chote, we should talk to Muskaan Bitiya... Khushi Bitiya, you talk to her."

Khushi: "me... me... no... I mean Di should talk to her."

Anjali: "No Khushiji, you talk to her because she believes that whatever her Khushi Mami says is right... she will listen to you... and you remember her first day here, when none of us were able to get any reaction out of her, your idea of creating a toy family got her involved with all of us... so I am sure, she surely will listen to you."

In Nani's room, Muskaan was sitting on the bed and with utmost concentration was solving the mathematical problems that had been assigned to her. Khushi walked into the room while the rest others stood outside the door, leaving the door slightly ajar to listen to the conversation. Khushi sat on the bed facing the door and caressed Muskaan's hair. Muskaan looked up and said: "Khushi Mami, I am almost done... this is the last sum..." saying she buried her head into the notebook and after a minute, showing it to Khushi said: "It's over... you check it."

Khushi smiled and checked the sums and all were correct. She kissing her cheek said: "Wow beta... all correct... very good."

Muskaan: "Khushi Mami, now that I have done all, can I go and play with Akash Mama?"

Khushi: "Of course beta... but before that I need to talk to you... will you listen..?" getting a nod from she continued: "Beta, now that you have studied so much at home, it is time for you to go to school."

Muskaan: "Schoolll...? Like the kids in TV go..?"

Khushi making her sit on her lap. "Yes... just like them... our Muskaan will wear new uniform... new new shoes... with new books... new bag... she will go to school... it will be fun... isn't it...?"

Muskaan as innocent as always: "yes... you, akash mama and maa too will come with me... it will be more fun..."

Khushi laughed and kissing her cheek said: "We can't dear... didn't you see in TV, only the students go to school... but every day we will go to drop you at school and then bring you back after your classes are over."

Muskaan: "Then, I will be alone there...?"

Khushi: "No dear... school is like 2^nd home... there your teachers will be there and then you will make lot many friends there."

Muskaan: "Friends...??"

Khushi: "Yes... like your Nani has so many friends... your Nanaji has friends... you Akash Mama, NK Mama... they all have friends... like that now our muskaan too will have friends."

Muskaan: "They will come to our home also... like Nani and Maa's friends come..?"

Khushi: "Yes... you will invite them and they will come to visit us..."

Muskaan: "Okay... so from when will I be going to school...?"

Khushi: "Very soon... but to get admitted to school, you will have to give an interview..."

Muskaan: "Interview... what is that..?"

Khushi: "Umm... like I ask you questions and you answer it... in the same way there will be some persons who will ask you questions and you will have to answer it..."

Muskaan thinking for a minute: "Just like that day, how Arnav Mama was asking to Aman Uncle and he was answering...?"

Khushi laughed out loud and the rest others who were standing outside controlled their smile while Arnav muttered "what the" slowly. "Yes dear, somewhat like that."

Mukaan: "Okay... it will be nice..."

Khushi now knew it was time to tell her about the boys, so breathing deeply she said: "Beta... you know when I was school I had a lot of friends... Trisha, Sneha, Aparna, Adyasha, Preeti, Deepika, Megha, Rakesh, Abhinash, Jignesh, Deepak..."

Muskaan in a worried tone: "...there were boys in your school..?"

Khushi: "Yes... lots of... and they all were my good friends..."

Muskaan: "In my school also there will be boys...?"

Khushi: "Yes."

Muskaan hugging her tight: "I won't go to school... I won't... I won't..."

Khushi: "Why...? What happened..?"

Muskaan: "I don't like boys... they are bad... I won't be with boys..."

Khushi: "Who said boys are bad...?"

Muskaan: "Yes... boys are bad... they are bad... they are not good..."

Khushi: "Okay... okay... you tell me, your NK mama is a boy... even your Arnav Mama and your Nanaji... so is your Akash Mama... are they bad...?" Muskaan shook her head "...even HPji and OPji are men... are they bad..?" and she again shook her head "Aman Uncle is a man... all the driver uncles... are they bad..?" and muskaan looking at her shook her head. "All of them are good... isn't it..?

Muskaan: "But... but... he... that man..." she was scared thinking about her previous employer and Shyam.

Khushi: "Beta, for one or two persons you can't consider all others as bad... yesterday we went to park, there the boys were not bad... were they..? Everyone is not good and likewise neither is everyone bad... good and bad are like two parts of a coin... if there are bad people around then there are good people too... and if we don't mingle with them then how will we know...?"

Muskaan: "But what if the boys in school are bad..?"

Khushi: "If they are bad then we won't be friends with them... but all will not be bad, there will be good people too... like you have friends at Nirmala Aunty's home... the little boys there are so nice... they love you, play with you... in the same way the boys at school will be good too."

Muskaan thinking for a while: "Okay... if they are bad, then I will tell Akash Mama and he will beat them up."

Khushi smiling kissed her forehead and said: "They won't be bad... now that it is decided that our Muskaan will be going to school... we should celebrate... isn't it..?"

Muskaan: "Yes... I will tell Maa and Akash Mama..."

Before Khushi could reply everyone came inside the room and Anjali cuddling Muskaan said: "I am so happy dear... my daughter will be going to school... (turning to Arnav) ...Chote, find the best school as soon as possible."

Arnav: "I have already messaged Aman, he will find out and inform as soon as possible."

Mami: "Hello Hi Bye Bye... now that Muskaan will be going to school, I need to prepare myself..."

Mamaji: "Why..? Muskaan bitiya is going to school not to any party..."

Mami: "I know I know... I have heard that these days the school people take interview of family so I need to prepared before hand... what if they ask me anything and I am not able to answer... Hello Hi Bye Bye... that will be..."

Mamaji: "Embarassing... and if they take interview then please talk in hindi, if you talk in your trademark English... tab to ho chukka admission..."

Mami: "What do you means...??"

Akash: "Maa, Papa means to say that you need to study or else how will you answer the questions?"

Mami: "You are right bitwa... I am going for studies now... no need to disturb me..." saying she picked up Muskaan's books and went to her room making everyone laugh.

In the next couple of weeks, as per the information provided by Aman, Arnav decided the best school for Muskaan, though everyone wanted to help in choosing school but ASR was firm in his decision that only he can decide the school for his niece, no one else. And after the formalities and interviews which thankfully included only Muskaan and Anjali, much to the displeasure of Mami and pleasure of others. Now after a month today is the first day of Muskaan's school and the whole family including Dadi was at the school to drop her... well that is what you can expect from the Raizadas... and thankfully Muskaan had liked the school and was happy when she returned back... and yes, the whole family was still at the gate waiting for him. Back at home, everyone sat beside her to listen to her about the first day at school and that continued till she felt asleep.

In Arshi's room

Arnav: "I am too happy today... I was worried that Muskaan will have problem adjusting in school..."

Khushi: "But I was confident that nothing of that sort will happen... she is strong enough to face everything... after all she is your niece too..."

Arnav: "Hmm... now everything seems to be going good... only waiting for the private investigators to give reports about what exactly happened in Sheesh Mahal 14 years ago... after that everything will be fine."

Khushi: "It has been so long Arnavji... when will the detectives give reports..?"

Arnav: "Khuhsi, it all happened a long time ago... and they need time to trace things that happened 14-15 years back."

Khushi: "Hmm, you are right... I was thinking of talking to Dadiji about it but then thought against it as she has recovered recently and I don't want her health to suffer."

Arnav: "I know... (hugging her) ...you know what, every good thing in this house is happening for you... before you came there was nothing good..." Khushi was about to protest but he continued "...it was only because of you that Dadi recovered ...had it not been you taking me to Nirmala Aunty's place, Di would have never found Muskaan nor would have been this strong to face everything that happened... and most importantly you made me see the truth... without you I still now would have been thinking bad about my Papa... thank you Khushi... thanks for everything..."

Khushi smiling: "Then I too should thank you Arnavji... for being such a wonderful husband..."

Arnav: "I have done nothing extra-ordinary Khushi... and honestly I have done nothing for you... even if you think I have done something for you then it is nothing as compared to what you have done for me... for my family..."

Khushi: "This hurts Arnavji... everytime you say that I have done things for your family... you still think this family is not mine...? I was thinking that this is my family too..."

Arnav: "I am sorry Khushi... I didn't mean that... what I meant is..."

Khushi kissing his cheek: "Hum samajhte hain..."

Arnav smiled and said: "I hope no more problem comes to the family... we have had enough."

Khushi: "I too wish the same."

But the next moment they heard loud shouting from Akash's room.